Chlorine-Free Red-Burning Pyrotechnics

Jesse J Sabatini; Ernst-Christian Koch; Jay C Poret; Jared D Moretti; Seth M Harbol

doi:10.1002/anie.201505829

Chlorine-Free Red-Burning Pyrotechnics

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015 Sep 7;54(37):10968-70. doi: 10.1002/anie.201505829.

Authors

Jesse J Sabatini¹, Ernst-Christian Koch², Jay C Poret³, Jared D Moretti³, Seth M Harbol⁴

Affiliations

¹ US Army Research Laboratory, Energetics Technology Branch, Maryland, 21005 (USA). jesse.j.sabatini.civ@mail.mil.
² Lutradyn-Energetic Materials Science & Technology, Burgherrenstrasse 132, 67661 Kaiserslautern (Deutschland). e-c.koch@lutradyn.com.
³ US Army RDECOM-ARDEC, Pyrotechnics Technology & Prototyping Division, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, 07806 (USA).
⁴ US Army, 22nd Chemical Battalion, (Technical Escort), Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, 21010 (USA).

PMID: 26333055
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201505829

Abstract

The development of a red, chlorine-free pyrotechnic illuminant of high luminosity and spectral purity was investigated. Red-light emission based solely on transient SrOH(g) has been achieved by using either 5-amino-1H-tetrazole or hexamine to deoxidize the combustion flame of a Mg/Sr(NO3 )2 /Epon-binder composition and reduce the amount of both condensed and gaseous SrO, which emits undesirable orange-red light. The new formulations were found to possess high thermal onset temperatures. Avoiding chlorine in these formulations eliminates the risk of the formation of PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. This finding, hence, will have a great impact on both military pyrotechnics and commercial firework sectors.

Keywords: energetic materials; illumination; pyrotechnics; red flames; sustainable chemistry.